Jack Russell Puppy Scratches Constantly

by jEN
(Tennessee, USA)

Our Ellie and neighbor Betty-boop

What a great site!!!! I am glad I've found it...

We have a wonderful 21 month old female Jack Russell. We love her dearly and she is so well behaved and has learned many tricks. As far as we know she is in great health...You may ask then what is your question?

QUESTON: We (husband and I) baby (dog) sit our neighbors 6 month old female Jack Russell who weighs 9 lbs... She scratches from time too time(almost constantly) and for long periods at a time. She does this at her owners home and in our home. She is fed Purina Puppy chow. She is very active. She is also very muscular from running with the neighbors larger dogs. Is very active outside dog. She is allowed outside for long periods but inside long periods as well. She does not have fleas. We have both checked her continually. Does anyone have any suggestions for us? I am told that they bathe her once a week and use a conditioner on her. We do not bathe our own dog that often. Could bathing so often be a scratching problem? Could the food she's eating be a problem? What????

Thank you for any and all suggestions.....jEN

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Jan 26, 2012
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REPLY 2 last response on my thread NEW
by: jEN

You could take your dog too the Vet. They would probably give some kind of pill too take. My dog had DRY SKIN. I found I could NOT bathe her more than ONCE A MONTH. I started using a regular CONDITIONER after shampooing. I also use and OATMEAL BASED shampoo. Other than this I really have no answers. It really helped us out tremendously...

Good Luck...

Jan 26, 2012
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Jack Russell Scratching NEW
by: Anonymous

Hello, I have a one year old Jack Russell and he is scratching till he is bleeding. No fleas so I do not know why he is scratching ALL THE TIME. Any suggestions?? Please and Thanks Carrie

Jun 10, 2010
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Reply too last posted entry
by: jEN

Thank you for the advice. I hope it does work for others. As stated in MY post we dont have THAT problem anymore. In all honesty I THINK a lot of Betty-boops problems were ANXIETY. The reason I think this is because even though the 'skin so soft' oil rinses seemed too help she still scratched a bit. We have owned her for over a year now and she is doing extremely well on the not scratching. NOW If we could only take care of the HYPER Barking when she see's other dogs walking by.... lol.. I am afraid she is much more energetic and HYPER than our 3 year old Ellie. We call Betty=boop our Problem Child... lol

Good luck. It's nice too see this thread still gets responses from time too time...:)

Jun 07, 2010
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THIS WORKS - On My Jack Russell
by: Anonymous

First off, I only use HyLyt Shampoo to was my Jack Russell. Learned this from taking my dog to the vet for constant scratching. After each bath I use Virbac ResiCORT leave-on lotion. This lotion has Hydocortisone in it and it works great. Then when once or twice a month I bathe the dog using the HyLyt Shampoo, then I use HyLyt Cream Rinse which you leave in for 10 minutes before rinsing off, then finish with the ResiCORT. This seams like a lot of work, but it is much cheaper than taking your dog to the vet because it scratched a welt in their skin. My Jack Russell is 7 years old, and since I found this process I have had no problems.

Jan 19, 2010
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Try vegetable oil
by: Sea-azur

My vet told me add a the spoon of vegetable oil
on the food.I take 3 cookies and put the oil on and give to my jack. I also buy a humidifier and let run day and night, FOR TWO DAYS MY JACK IS NOT SCRATCHING ANY MORE.

Aug 26, 2009
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Good luck with your pet
by: jeanniewes

Good Luck!!! It did work for us. However it did take several warm skin so soft baths and NO SHAMPOO. I think Betty-boop had very dry skin. she has done very very well since.

Please let me know IF that works for you. It should take at least 2 0r 3 of those baths and not often. I gave her one and then waited a bit. I wouldn't do more than one every 3-4 weeks. Just leave out the shampooing for awhile untill you see if that works..

Aug 26, 2009
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Darby
by: joan

Hi, we have a new puppy called darby, he is 10 weeks old and we have noticed that he scrathces and nibbles his coat. cant find any flees so think we are ok there. I though he might be allergic to milk so we have took him off that but he still scratches and nibbles. I am going to try your tip on the skin so soft bathing to see if that help. If not down to the vets we go

Aug 13, 2009
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problem solved
by: jEN

THANK YOU for your comment. All comments were very much appreciated. I think perhaps Betty-boop had extremely dry skin. I dont know. I just know that we gave her warm water rinses with 'Skin so soft' bath oil in them. We did this several times a month over a couple of months. That must have helped. Now we only bathe her once a month in a mild shampoo and then rinse her well. she scrathes no more... I am very happy about this. Betty is not the neighbors dog anymore. She belongs too us now. She seems very happy in her new home..

Aug 11, 2009
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Jack Russell Scratching
by: Anonymous

My Jack Russell is about 8 years old.and she (Gabby) is a love. The best thing I have found to end the scratching is a steroid that the vet prescribes. I just use the steroid twice a day until the scratching stops; I maybe use on average 12 little pills per month, but I wonder if the long-term use might harm her. My vet knows how often I get the pills.

Mar 28, 2009
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Reply 2 Jackie
by: jEN

Hi again Jackie...

Ummmmm should I be the bearer of bad news? lol... Jack Russells shed off and on thru the year. I was told that is because they do not get enough Sun IF they are an inside dog. However we have a closed in back deck and as it has gotten warmer I have put Ellie and Betty-boop out on the deck a lot. I am not totally convinced that the Sun helps all that much. We have had Ellie almost 2 years now and she has periods where she sheds. Also since keeping our neighbors Betty I have noticed that she sheds at times and not at others. When they have Betty they keep her tied outside too a runner sooooo I know she gets LOTS of sun and she still sheds from time too time. Right now they are both shedding and I think it is losing their winter coat. I have a Rainbow Vacum...A GOOD THING for it is an excellent vacum with a water system which shows how much shedding is done around this house! lol...Needless too say I have too vacum very very frequently... Soooo during the summer months the dogs will have too spend much time on the screened in back porch and adjoining deck. I let them in at night while I watch TV and until bedime. The winter months are more difficult as Ellie is completely inside except for the every 4 hour potty trip outside. Betty is still a puppy so when she visits I expect too go out a lot more often. Usually every 2 1/2 hours so Ellie decides she will go too...

Anyway do try the Avon Skin so soft bath oil. Yes it is good for repelling mosquitoes I'm told. Try giving your little doggie the oil baths at least every 10 days. IF it is dry skin then after several of those you will see MUCH improvement... I tried all those shampoos too. The ones for sensitive skin, dry skin, etc. None of those stopped the scratching.. I just thought ummm I'm gonna try the Oil and see what happens. It was the best thing I could have ever done for little Betty.... sooooooooooo GOOD LUCK....

Mar 28, 2009
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Scratchy Dog
by: Jackie (MIDLANDS UK)

Hi

Thanks- I've got some Avon Bath Oil-Going to try it today- bizarrely- my partner finds it reduces mosquito bites- so anything worth a try.

We've tried antibacterial shampoo and anti histamines from the vet- no use- so willing to try anything else- also tried a bite deterrent spray which tastes awful- but he just licks it off. The only good thing is that when he does cut himself- he heals really quickly- but its so frustraing not being able to help

I've also been using Yumega, which contains omega oils, as he seems to shed his coat a lot.

Hope to add a photo soon- He's called Scruff and is a rescue dog (found as a stray dog)- First time I've had a jack russell and he's adorable

Mar 27, 2009
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for Jackie...
by: jEN

Hellooooooooo ... You know I was beginning too wonder IF anyone every came too this site. I had almost given up hope..ughhhh.... I wish people would visit/share more. I wish this site was very active. I love my dog and most everyone elses...lol

You know what we did? When Betty-boop came too visit and stayed? We ran a warm bath and put several caps full of 'Avon Skin So Soft" bath oil. We NEVER shampooed Betty...just the warm oil rinse. Then a week later we took her home. I had noticed she was not scratching so much. Her owner said "I dont know what happened but Betty is not scratching like she did." So I told her. The next week Betty came for a visit. She was here 9 days. In the middle of that visit we rinsed her in another warm oil bath.... She has almost quit scratching all together...NOW Idont know IF her skin was really dry OR it was a nervous condition. She seemed 'skiddish' when she first started visiting here BUT she was scratching long before she came too visit here... We love little Betty and may take her for our own since the neighbor really doesnt want or have time to deal with the energy that a full blooded Jack has. Acutally I dont know IF I am able too deal sometimes...lol...Anyway it's worth a try Jackie. Try giving her warm, oil rinses and hold off on shampooing for awhile?

It is nice too meet you by the way....Hope too hear how things work out.....

Mar 26, 2009
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SCRATCHING
by: Jackie

Hi
I'm having the same problem with my 1 year old rescue dog- to the point that he scratches his head, eye and ears and cuts himself
Our vet tried steroids and they worked- but not a long term solution. We've also tried anti histamines and they dont work. Is there any long term options equivalent to steroids. I'm back at stage one and worry that he will hurt himself

Jan 17, 2009
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Reply to Anonymous
by: jEN

Thank you for your response. I tried responding yesterday but my reply would not post for some strange reason...

I did pass on the great tips too my neighbor. I had wondered if perhaps they were giving Betty-Boop too many baths. I remember when our Ellie was a puppy, I had to cut back on baths as she seemed too scratch more...

Jan 15, 2009
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Scratching Jack
by: Anonymous

Hi,

After Tegran baths, Oatmeal baths, for itching (only in late summer) my vet prescribed a cream called Resicort. It seemed to help. Maybe the frequent bathing is making the skin too dry? I know they get down and dirty, but maybe fewer baths? When my dog was scratching I thought he had fleas, couldn't see any and the vet said there were none!

Good Luck

PS: I am 67 and I have a Jack who is 30 months old!

Jan 14, 2009
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Thanx Marc.. :)
by: jEN

The information you have given me may be valuable. I will pass it on too my neighbor when she returns on Saturday. Betty-boop does not have sores or scabs. Just that aggravating scratching. I so want too help her and feel helpless. The other night I sprayed a oil conditioner on her coat, rubbed it in and it only helped briefly. We had purchased that at one of the Pet supply places.

It is our pleasure too baby (dog) sit Betty-boop. She is such a joy and gets along with our Ellie so well. Our neighbor had wanted us too take Betty into our home full time. I just do not feel I can handle TWO Jack Russell's full time. Our Ellie is part Jack and part Beagle. She is a little bit more calm that the full blooded Jack...lol... For years we only had outside dogs. The last, of 3,died 14 years ago. They were not Jacks. I retired in 2007 and since I was not retirement age it was suggested I get a dog too keep me company. I almost freaked out at the thought of an inside dog..lol... However we have done very well with Ellie. We have been able too keep the dreaded fleas out and we are very blessed with our pet of choice...

When time permits I want too explore the whole of this site. It looks very interesting. Thank you so much for your response. I hope too hear from other as well.....

Again...thanks, thanks, thanks....

Jan 14, 2009
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Possible Allergies???
by: Marc

Hi jEN,

Sound like the problem may be allergies. Our dog constantly scratched and chewed on her feet. We thought it was just some kind of nervous habit.

We finally took her to the vet and he suspected allergies as there small scabs on her skin. She was treated with a steroid for 30 days and we were also given a medicated shampoo to bathe her twice a week. On top of that, the vet put her on Purina HA which is a "hypo-allergenic" food. The skin has cleared up and there is no more scratching.

Bottom line is, anytime something does not seem right, it is best to have a check up with the vet.

Good Luck!

Marc

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